In economic crisis, Obama offers Detroit a message of hope

By KATHLEEN GRAY

When Michigan is the stop, presidential candidates turn to the economy, and Sen. Barack Obama went straight to work in Detroit on Sunday, railing against Wall Street and Washington for the current financial crisis. Michigan has the nation's highest unemployment rate, at 8.9%; more than 300,000 manufacturing jobs have evaporated, and the mortgage foreclosure rate is among the highest in the nation. "We meet here at a time of great uncertainty in Detroit and all across America," Obama said. "The era of greed and irresponsibility on Wall Street and in Washington has led us to a financial crisis as serious as any we have faced since the Great Depression. Travonne Young, 42, of Detroit hears hundreds of distressing stories a day from people who need help. As an employee of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, a social services agency in Detroit, she said she believes Obama can help swing the economy back from the brink. "Four years is not enough to get it all done," said Young. "But at least he can open the door."

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